Drain Dishpan

ABSTRACT

The intent is to improve the usability of a kitchen sink dishpan by the added utility of a built in or produced drain hole in the dishpan. There are discrete embodiments employed in concert with the drain hole, any of which improve the usability, utility and marketability of a kitchen sink dishpan. This drain hole in the dishpan is centered over the kitchen sink drain as the dishpan resides in the kitchen sink The drain hole can be sized to accommodate a rim and basket sink strainer. Or the drain hole can be sized rather to accommodate a cup strainer with sink stopper. Or the drain hole can be sized rather to accommodate a sink stopper alone. Each of these discrete installations is successful in alternately sealing and unsealing the dishpan drain hole. This allows the dishpan to hold or drain the dishwater saving the user the trouble of lifting and dumping the contents. Hence the term, the “Drain Dishpan.”

BACKGROUND

This application relates to sink dishpans. A simple improvement to the dishpan is proposed: build into the dishpan a drain hole that can be sealed or unsealed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Unable to find any reference to a draining dishpan in patent searches, I have no prior PPA in this regard.

BACKGROUND

1. Prior Art

Unable to find any prior art of a draining dishpan.

2. Advantages

The advantages are significant to the consumer, especially to the consumer who is handicapped. An advantage of Drain Dishpan over a non-draining dishpan is ease of use and convenience. There is less effort required when emptying the dishpan. It is easier to unseal the drain hole on a full Drain Dishpan than it is to tip over a full non-draining dishpan. This hoisting and tipping may prove to be particularly difficult for the elderly or disabled. Indeed, because the user can run water into and out of the Drain Dishpan as if it were the kitchen sink itself, the user can leave the Drain Dishpan in the kitchen sink indefinitely. Consider an additional advantage; the drained water from the Drain Dishpan touches very little if any of the sink surface which means there is little chance of sink staining. So the Drain Dishpan does a superior job of protecting the surface of the sink, which is the main purpose of the dishpan in the first place. Another way to assess the commercial viability is to flip the current market: suppose all dishpans currently on the market were draining dishpans, would then the introduction of a drain-less dishpan even be considered? The Drain Dishpan does initially cost more, but the cost would not be unreasonable considering the durability of dishpans in general. In other words, it is virtually a one-time expense and hardly a large expense at that. And what would be the useful advantage of a dishpan without a drain, and one that returns less of a profit to producers and sellers?

SUMMARY

In accordance with the embodiments, a kitchen sink dishpan is improved by a formed or produced drain hole. This drain hole is sealed to prevent dishpan water drainage, and unsealed to allow drainage of the dishpan water. The embodiments proposed to accomplish this sealing and unsealing will be repeatable and simple and robust enough to last throughout the useful life of the dishpan itself.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

In the drawings figure numbers relate to the embodiment.—For example, FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C relate to the first embodiment. Alphabetic suffixes expand the number of drawings per embodiment. FIGS. 1A and 1B (close-up) show aspects of the rim and basket sink strainer equipped Drain Dishpan, a cut-away narrow side view. FIG. 1C shows an overhead view of the Drain Dishpan with the viewer standing over the kitchen sink. The view is of the Drain Dishpan with rim and basket strainer residing in the kitchen sink. When substituting a cup strainer and stopper or stopper for the rim and basket strainer, the view is similar with the exception of the hardware itself.

FIGS. 2A and 2B relate to the second embodiment and show aspects of the cup strainer equipped Drain Dishpan. The sink stopper is set into or over the cup strainer sealing the Drain Dishpan. The sink stopper is lifted from the cup strainer to drain the Drain Dishpan.

FIGS. 3A and 3B relate to the third embodiment and show the Drain Dishpan with the most basic configuration. The drain hole either accepts a sink stopper into or over the drain hole to form a seal. The sink stopper is lifted to allow draining.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Dish pan converted to Drain Dishpan 11 Drain hole in Drain Dishpan 12 Mounting nut 13 Rim and basket sink strainer 14 Basket 15 Lifts or protrusions 16 Fitted sink stopper 17 Universal fit stopper 18 Cup strainer 19 Kitchen sink

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

See FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. In accordance with one embodiment, FIG. 1A shows an improved dishpan, a Drain Dishpan 10. The Drain Dishpan 10 resides in the kitchen sink. The Drain Dishpan 10 has a built in or produced drain hole sized to accommodate the installation of the rim and basket sink strainer 13. (The stainless steel rim and basket sink strainer 13 is standard plumbing hardware.) This assembly forms a water-tight seal with the Drain Dishpan 10. The rim and basket sink strainer 13 is of stainless steel, or other sturdy material. To make the this installation more apparent to the reader, consider that the rim and basket sink strainer 13 is installed in the Drain Dishpan 10 just as this strainer 13 would be installed in a kitchen sink 19. The basket 14 is lifted to unseal and allow drainage or dropped into place to seal and prevent drainage.

The Drain Dishpan 10 drain hole 11 is built in or produced, etc. and is centered over the kitchen sink drain as the Drain Dishpan 10 resides in the kitchen sink (this is true for all stated embodiments). This insures that the installed rim and basket sink strainer 13 of the Drain Dishpan is centered over the kitchen sink drain. This will allow the Drain Dishpan 10 rim and basket sink strainer 13 to nestle into the basketless kitchen sink strainer, though not necessarily touching.

To insure practical clearance so that the rim and basket sink strainer 13 and hence the Drain Dishpan 10 itself does not totter upon the kitchen sink strainer, the Drain Dishpan 10 will have on the underside lifts or lifting protrusions 15 of sufficient height to lift the Drain Dishpan 10 from the surface of the kitchen sink. This insures the desired fit of the Drain Dishpan 10 rim and basket sink strainer 13 into the kitchen sink strainer.

Operation First Embodiment

With the Drain Dishpan 10 resting within the kitchen sink, the user simply fits the basket 14 into its resting place within the rim and sink strainer body 13 to affect a waterproof seal. The user can then fill the Drain Dishpan 10 with water. To drain the Drain Dishpan 10 the user unseats the basket 14 from the rim and sink strainer body 13. This is repeatable for the life of the Drain Dishpan 10.

Advantages

Accordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: it is more convenient and sanitary to drain a dishpan typically containing 5 to 16 quarts or more of used water, weighting roughly 8 to 25 pounds or more, by unsealing the drain hole 11. This is preferable to picking up the dishpan by its side and sloshing the dishpan soapy water out and about. Aged persons, or the disabled, will find a drain-equipped dishpan, the Drain Dishpan 10, much preferable to a drain-less dishpan. Indeed, if they wish to use a dishpan, they may find a Drain Dishpan 10 to be necessary. Little in the way of strength or dexterity is required for emptying a Drain Dishpan 10. It is a one-hand operation. Many consider the main purpose of a of a dishpan is to protect the sink from eventual stains. A drain-equipped dishpan, the Drain Dishpan 10, is far more effective at reducing kitchen sink stains since nearly 100 per cent of the soapy water does not touch the sink surface, where as with a drain-less ordinary dishpan 100 percent of the soapy water does eventually cascade over the kitchen sink surface.

For consumers who wish to go upscale, who don't mind the one-time added expense of the rim and basket sink strainer 15 equipped Drain Dishpan 10, there is little reason to choose a drain-less dishpan over a Drain Dishpan 10.

Second Embodiment

See FIGS. 2A and 2B. In this embodiment of the Drain Dishpan 10 the rim and basket sink strainer 13 hardware is not used. Instead, a cup strainer 18 of stainless steel or other sturdy material is placed in the sized drain hole 11. (The stainless steel cup strainer is standard plumbing hardware.) A universal fit stopper 17 is set over the cup strainer produces a waterproof seal. (Sink stoppers are standard plumbing hardware.)

There is a drain hole 11 built in or produced, located in the bottom of the Drain Dishpan 10 so as to be centered over the kitchen sink drain. The drain hole 11 is sized to accommodate the cup strainer 18. The cup strainer 18 will fit snuggly into the drain hole 11 affecting a seal between the cup strainer 18 and the Drain Dishpan 10. A universal fit stopper 17 will cover the cup strainer 18. Sink stopper 17 will form a waterproof seal. This embodiment of the Drain Dishpan 10 may or may not exhibit the lifts or lifting protrusions 15.

Operation—Second Embodiment

The cup strainer 18 and sink stopper 17 equipped Drain Dishpan 10 resides within the kitchen sink. To affect a waterproof seal the user places the sink stopper 17 in or over the cup strainer 18. To drain users simply unseal the sink stopper 17 by lifting it. This is repeatable for the practical life of the Drain Dishpan 10.

Advantages

Accordingly the operational advantages are the same as stated in the previous embodiments. An additional advantage of this approach is that the total cost is less than that of the first embodiment. Yet complete effectiveness is maintained.

Third Embodiment

See FIGS. 3A and 3B. In this embodiment of the Drain Dishpan 10 instead of employing a rim and basket sink strainer 13, or a cup strainer 18 with sink stopper 16 or 17 to affect a seal, the sink stopper 16 or 17 alone is employed. As previously, there is a drain hole 11 built in or produced, located in the bottom of the Drain Dishpan 10 so as to be centered over the kitchen sink drain. The drain hole 11 is sized to accommodate a sink stopper 16 designed to fit snuggly into the drain hole 11 forming a waterproof seal, or a sink stopper 17 of a design that fits over the drain hole 11. This embodiment of the Drain Dishpan 10 can have the lifts or lifting protrusions 15 referred to in the first embodiment, or not.

Operation—Third Embodiment

To affect a waterproof seal the user simply places the sink stopper 16 in or over the drain hole 11 in the Drain Dishpan 10. To drain this Drain Dishpan 10, users simply unseal the sink stopper 163 by lifting it. This is repeatable for the practical life of the Drain Dishpan.

Advantages

Accordingly the operational advantages are the same as stated in the previous embodiments. One additional advantage of this approach is that costs in addition to the dishpan itself are minimal while maintaining effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

The draining dishpan has a drain hole centered over kitchen sink drain. Utilizing the stated embodiments the Drain Dishpan offers the consumer a decidedly improved dishpan. It is a dishpan that offers better utility and better usability, particularly for the disabled. And it presents a chance for the consumer to upgrade an otherwise mundane kitchen utensil. By offering designer colors offset with a gleaming stainless steel strainer, or even white dishpan with matching stopper, marketers can capture not only the consumer already in the market for a dishpan but also the market of those captivated by the very idea. And for the manufacturers and retailers extra built in profit would be likely.

There are variations possible beyond the stated embodiments. For example the rim and basket strainer if constructed of sturdy material other than stainless steel could be color coordinated to the color of the dishpan. A shortened, custom version of the rim and basket strainer could obviate the need for dishpan underside lifts or protrusions. Additionally, a strainer body covering (polymer, plastic, paint etc.) is possible. This would cover the rim and basket strainer body extending beneath the Drain Dishpan. The covering would not hinder drainage because it would not cover or obstruct the drainage hole at the very bottom of the rim and basket sink strainer. The color of the covering would be color coordinated to the color of the Drain Dishpan. In the stated third embodiment, instead of fitting the stopper into the drain hole itself, the drain hole could accommodate a flanged washer, gasket or grommet, grooved for drainage, which would then accept the stopper. Why have only white stoppers? The sink stoppers could be arrestingly color matched with the Drain Dishpan. These are variations on the theme of the seal/unseal draining dishpan. It is intended that the scope of the embodiments be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given. 

I claim:
 1. A kitchen sink dishpan is improved by a built in or produced drain hole that can be sealed to prevent water drainage and can be unsealed to allow water drainage.
 2. The dishpan of claim 1 wherein the drain hole will be sized to accommodate a rim and basket sink strainer of stainless steel or other sturdy material allowing water retention or drainage.
 3. The dishpan of claim 2 wherein the installed rim and basket sink strainer of stainless steel will be covered as the strainer extends beneath.
 4. The dishpan of claim 2 wherein this dishpan will be equipped with lifts or exhibit lifting protrusions providing practical clearance of the kitchen sink.
 5. The dishpan of claim 1 wherein the drain hole will be sized to accommodate a cup strainer of stainless steel or other sturdy material.
 6. The dishpan of claim 1 wherein the cup strainer of claim 5 is sealed and unsealed by a sink stopper either in or over the cup strainer.
 7. The dishpan of claim 1 wherein the drain hole will be sized to accommodate the sink stopper.
 8. The dishpan of claim l wherein the drain hole of claim 7 is sealed and unsealed by the sink stopper either in or over the drain hole itself. 